This post is my second in response to Matt Taylor's, here. The first, which provides background, is here. Matthew, I love you. You have conflated two wonderfully different things.
The constitutions of all nations change, but the Constitution of the United States of America is meant to resist change. It is neither a descriptive summary of the laws and mores of the nation, changing with every generation, nor the end toward which we strive. It is the vehicle by which we may have self-government. The following quote may help:
"The Constitution and the Union... are not the primary cause of our great prosperity. There is something back of these, entwining itself more closely about the human heart. That something, is the principle of "Liberty to all"--the principle that clears the path for all--gives hope to all, and, by consequence, enterprize, and industry to all.
The expression of that principle, in our Declaration of Independence, was most happy, and fortunate. Without this, as well as with it, we could have declared our independence of Great Britain; but without it, we could not, I think, have secured our free government, and consequent prosperity. No oppressed, people will fight, and endure, as our fathers did, without the promise of something better, than a mere change of masters.
The assertion of that principle, at that time, was the word, "fitly spoken" which has proved an "apple of gold" to us. The Union, and the Constitution, are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was made, not to conceal, or destroy the apple; but to adorn, and preserve it. The picture was made for the apple, not the apple for the picture.
So let us act, that neither picture, or apple shall ever be blurred, or bruised or broken."
The constitutions of all nations change, but the Constitution of the United States of America is meant to resist change. It is neither a descriptive summary of the laws and mores of the nation, changing with every generation, nor the end toward which we strive. It is the vehicle by which we may have self-government. The following quote may help:
"The Constitution and the Union... are not the primary cause of our great prosperity. There is something back of these, entwining itself more closely about the human heart. That something, is the principle of "Liberty to all"--the principle that clears the path for all--gives hope to all, and, by consequence, enterprize, and industry to all.
The expression of that principle, in our Declaration of Independence, was most happy, and fortunate. Without this, as well as with it, we could have declared our independence of Great Britain; but without it, we could not, I think, have secured our free government, and consequent prosperity. No oppressed, people will fight, and endure, as our fathers did, without the promise of something better, than a mere change of masters.
The assertion of that principle, at that time, was the word, "fitly spoken" which has proved an "apple of gold" to us. The Union, and the Constitution, are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was made, not to conceal, or destroy the apple; but to adorn, and preserve it. The picture was made for the apple, not the apple for the picture.
So let us act, that neither picture, or apple shall ever be blurred, or bruised or broken."
My friend, it is not the restoration of strict 1787 Consitutionalism, "big-C," that we must seek--for even in that time they were not all of one mind--but rather we must seek, as in every free and republican generation, to live well, by the principles of the Declaration.
It is not the picture, but the apple of gold we must seek. Good men in our time are not willing to die for parchment barriers--but good men in all times have been willing to die for freedom.
According to this argument, what is the value of the Constitution itself? What is its relation to the apple of gold? Is it, as Matthew claims, outdated, or is it still the best means of achieving freedom?
ReplyDeleteIf I had that kind of answer... if only. In all seriousness, though Erik, I believe that the best practical examples of how we out to govern ourselves are NJ gov. Chris Christie and WI Rep. Paul Ryan. Both have principled and, more importantly, practical ideas about where we go from here. I strongly urge you to take the time to read Ryan's Roadway For America's Future, a summary of which can found on Google, or here: http://tinyurl.com/ykgc9rc
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